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ALL RETREAT PARTICIPANTS: CHANT BOOK DOWNLOAD Here!!

It is much more extensive than the book we use for weekly and monthly Zazenkai, and is also somewhat modified from last year.

Please print out the following "Gatha" Chants (found also on Page 3 of the Chant Book) and keep them in your bathroom area (wrapped in plastic is suggested ... )

PRINT THESE OUT AND POST THEM AROUND YOUR BATHROOM!!
RECITE EACH AFTER 3 BOWS:

VERSE ON ENTERING BATH
Bathing the body,
may all living beings
be clean in body and mind,
pure and shining within and without.
VERSE FOR TOOTH BRUSHING
Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,
I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
When my mouth is fragrant with
right speech,
A flower blooms in the garden of the heart.

VERSE FOR FACE/HAND WASHING
Washing the face/hands,
I vow with all beings
To pierce the pure Dharma gate
Forever undefiled

VERSE ON ENTERING TOILET
Defiled or immaculate,
increasing or decreasing--
these concepts exist only in our mind.
The reality of interbeing is unsurpassed.

VERSE AFTER EACH OF THE FOREGOING
Using the (bath / tooth brush/
wash basin / toilet)
I vow with all beings
To pierce defilement
clearing greed, anger and ignorance.

Re: ALL RETREAT PARTICIPANTS: CHANT BOOK DOWNLOAD Here!!

Hi

I stumbled on a way to organize and protect the chant book while recycling. Remember the old “Day Runner” half page binders? Yea that was before Palm Pilots, Blackberries, I Phones etc. Anyway I dug my old one out and found if I printed the chant book two pages to a sheet and cut them, they fit perfectly in the old day runner. Convenient dividers, loose leaf so it does not close when reading, and protects the chant book and other material Jundo and Taigu have given us over time.

Re: ALL RETREAT PARTICIPANTS: CHANT BOOK DOWNLOAD Here!!

Originally Posted by lorax

Hi

I stumbled on a way to organize and protect the chant book while recycling. Remember the old “Day Runner” half page binders? Yea that was before Palm Pilots, Blackberries, I Phones etc. Anyway I dug my old one out and found if I printed the chant book two pages to a sheet and cut them, they fit perfectly in the old day runner. Convenient dividers, loose leaf so it does not close when reading, and protects the chant book and other material Jundo and Taigu have given us over time.

Works for me, hope the idea helps.

Jim

Thanks for the idea Jim! I seem to remember Jundo mentioning he'd show us how to make a chant book in one of the beginner videos, but I don't remember seeing anything about that since.

Re: ALL RETREAT PARTICIPANTS: CHANT BOOK DOWNLOAD Here!!

Originally Posted by Dosho

Originally Posted by lorax

Hi

I stumbled on a way to organize and protect the chant book while recycling. Remember the old “Day Runner” half page binders? Yea that was before Palm Pilots, Blackberries, I Phones etc. Anyway I dug my old one out and found if I printed the chant book two pages to a sheet and cut them, they fit perfectly in the old day runner. Convenient dividers, loose leaf so it does not close when reading, and protects the chant book and other material Jundo and Taigu have given us over time.

Works for me, hope the idea helps.

Jim

Thanks for the idea Jim! I seem to remember Jundo mentioning he'd show us how to make a chant book in one of the beginner videos, but I don't remember seeing anything about that since.

Hmm... Did I say that? Well, I would say to follow Jim's suggestion, or just go to the stationary story and get a nice binder cover.

How about a quick lesson in how to hold it?

With a more solidly constructed booklet, one would hold it at eye level with the thumbs and little fingers inside the book. ...

The top of the book should be held about even with the tip of the nose.

With this more flimsy booklet, it can be a little easier to hold your hands in Gassho with your thumbs holding the page in front of you. In other words, make a regular Gassho, and hold the book in the crease between the thumbs and pointer fingers. (like the fellow at far right here ....

... although he is very sloppy and should be holding it up higher, at nose level, elbows out to the sides, to truly have proper decorum) ...

The Sutra chant books are to be respected, of course, so please don't put them on the floor or stand on them for example. You should keep them within reach of your sitting place, however, so I recommend putting a towel or cloth under them, especially if they will be on the ground.